Chain is an album by the American band the Family Stand, released in the United States in 1990.[2][3] The first single, "Ghetto Heaven", was a hit in dance clubs; "Chain" was also released as a single.[4][5] The band supported the album with a North American tour.[6] Chain peaked at No. 52 on the UK Albums Chart.
The Family Stand hoped to craft a nonmainstream album that would still be played on Black radio; according to the band, Atlantic Records delayed Chain due to doubts about radio success.[8][2] Their chief influence was Sly and the Family Stone.[2] Sandra St. Victor sang lead on "In Summer I Fall".[9] "Little White, Little Black Lies" examines racism in Christianity.[10] The rap in "Twisted" implores the Jackson family to avoid additional plastic surgery; the track includes a snippet of a Malcolm X speech.[11][12] The title track urges listeners to avert the bad habits of their parents.[13] "Ovasaxed" is a saxophone-led instrumental.
Chain consists of ten tracks traveling in different directions. The much ballyhooed "Ghetto Heaven" attempts to capture the power of Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield in social significancy but has the impact of a mosquitoe. It gets better with "Only" which has a mock reggae beat that bottoms an infectious melody; "In Summer I Fall" is a sweet beat ballad with a warm lead from Sandra St. Victor. "Oversaxed" displays V. Jeffrey Smith smooth sax skills. "The Last Temptation" owes as much to gospel as it does soul, and exemplifies the diversity of this LP. The title track "Chain," is melodic in a muddy way, the muffled sound gives the shuffling rhythm an eerie effect. Third member Peter Lord contributes vocals and his immense keyboard skills to a project that doesn't equal the sum of the individuals involved.
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